The Authority has upheld an accuracy complaint from John Minto on behalf of Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa about 1News’ reporting of violence that unfolded in Amsterdam surrounding a football match between the local team Ajax and Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv. The reporting comprised a pre-ad-break trailer reporting ‘antisemitic violence’, an introduction by the presenter which included a montage of ‘disturbing’ footage of violence described by Amsterdam’s mayor as ‘an explosion of antisemitism’, and a pre-recorded BBC item.
The broadcaster upheld one aspect of the complaint, relating to mischaracterised footage used in the trailer and introduction, which was originally reported as showing Israeli fans being attacked, but later corrected by Reuters and other outlets to indicate it showed Israeli fans chasing and attacking one Dutch man. The Authority considered the footage contributed to a materially misleading impression created by TVNZ’s framing of the events, with an emphasis on antisemitic violence against Israeli fans without acknowledging the role of the Maccabi fans in the violence – despite that being reported elsewhere prior to this 1News item.
A majority of the Authority did not consider TVNZ had made reasonable efforts to ensure accuracy; the background to these events was highly sensitive and more care should have been taken in framing the story so as not to overstate, or adopt without question, the ‘antisemitic’ angle. The minority considered it was reasonable for TVNZ to rely on Reuters, the BBC and the views of Dutch officials who described the violence as ‘antisemitic’, in the context of a developing story overseas in which not all facts were clear at the time of this broadcast.
The Authority considered TVNZ should have issued a correction when it became aware of the error with the footage. It therefore found the action taken was insufficient but considered publication of this decision adequate remedy in the circumstances.
Upheld: Accuracy.
Not Upheld: Balance.
No Order